Web folding mechanism



April 5, 1932. L. JENSEN ET AL 1,852,655

' WEB FOLDING MECHAIIIISM Filed July 12. 1929 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April5, 1932. L. JENSEN ET AL WEB FOLDING MECHANISM Filed July 12, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 5, 1932 war 'tATES OF ILLINOIS T OFFICECHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION WEBFOLDING MECHANISM Application filed July 12,

This invention relates particularly to mechanism for producinglongitudinal folds in a web of paper.

The invention is particularly useful in 1 folding, in zig-zag manner, aweb comprising printed forms, thus producing a manifolding strip, inwhich the portions comprising the original and copy-strips are arrangedin supegposed position.

uch a web may be taken directly from a printing press, if desired; andafter the longitudinal folding has been effected, the multiple-ply stripmay, if desired, be delivered to a folding machine and foldedtransversely in zig-zag manner to produce a packet.

On the other hand, the multiple-ply strip may, instead of being taken toa folding machine, be wound into a roll, if desired;

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simplemechanism capable of operating at high speed and effectively folding aweb longitudinally, such mechanism operating with certainty and withlittle or no danger of injuring the product. V

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, in which 1 Fig. 1 is an elevational viewillustrating the improved mechanism installed in a factory (shown insection), the web being taken from a printing press (shown brokenly);F1g. 2, a plan view taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, aplan view taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, an enlargedbroken elevational view illustrating the feed means located near thedelivery end of the apparatus; Fig. 5, a view taken at right angles to 4the view shown in Fig. 4;; Fig. 6, an enlarged sectional view taken asindicated at line 6 of Fig. l; Fig. 7 a broken perspective view of theweb to be folded; and Fig. 8, a broken perspective view of the web infolded condition.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, A designates a printing pressfrom which a web A is taken; B, B and B designate pulleys, or rollers,over or about which the web is carried; C, a propelling roller whichaids 1929. Serial No. 377,804.

in the feeding movement of the web; D, a sector-like guide over whichthe web passes; D, initial folding devices associated with the guide D;E, a final feed device at or near the delivery end of the apparatus; andF and G, belts, or chains, connecting the roller G and the rollers ofthe final feed devices E with the press. c

The printing press A may be of any suitable form. Ordinarily, suchapress is provided with plates, or forms, for printing alternatesections of the web on opposite sides, so that when the web is foldedlongitudinally in zig-zag manner the printed forms on each section ofthe strip will be on the upper side thereof. If desired, the printed webmay be delivered from the printing press to a roll, and the web to befolded may then be taken from such roll.

It may be assumed that the rollers B, B and B are idlers and that theshaft H which drives the belt, or chain, F is geared to the mechanismwhich feeds the web A through the printing press. The roller C is preferably operated at a slightly faster surface speed than the rollers, orcylinders, of the printing press.

The device D is in the form of a stationary curved member forming aportion of a circle of large diameter, so that the web A is given atransverse curvature as it passes over the segment, drawn by theforwarding mechanism E. In a plane slightly below the sector D is a pairof fixed horizontal shafts 1 and 2 which are equipped with dependingcurved arms l and 2', respectively. These shafts and curved armsconstitute the device D which is of a character to effect the initialfolding of the web. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the arms 1 bear astaggered relation with respect to the arms 2 In the illustration given,the webcomprises three sections, designated 3*, 3 and 3. The two linesof folding are indicated at 3 The mechanism E which effects theforwarding of the web in the final folding at or near the discharge endof the apparatus comprises a frame, or support, 4 equipped with a pairof fiXed horizontal tubular members 5 carrying a fixed vertical plate 6;a feed-roller 7 journalled in a bracket, or brackets, 8 projecting fromthe lower portion of the plate 6; a companion feed-device 9 comprising ashaft 9 and feed-disks 9" mounted thereon, the shaft 9 being journalledin the lower ends of arms 10 which depend from a fixed pivot shaft 11carried by a bracket 12 which is secured to the plate 6 by screws, orbolts, 13; adjustable securing means 14 connecting the cross-bar 15 bymeans of which the arms 10 are connected with the plate 6, said meanscomprising a bolt equipped with clamping nuts 16 which engage oppositesides of the plate 6, the bolt 14 extending freely through a perforationin the plate 6; upwardly eX- tending members, or arms, 12 carried: bythe bracket 12, said arms having secured thereto spaced diverging plates12 which afford a throat through which the strip of paper passes;pulleys 7 e and 9 adapted to actuate the rollers 7 and 9, respectively;a shaft 17 j ournalled in a bracket 18 carried by the upper member 5,the shaft 17 being equipped with a pulley 17* which serves to actuatethe straight and crossed belts 19 and 20, which, in turn, operate thepulleys 7 and 9 and a shaft 21 geared to the shaft 17, said shaft 21being equipped with pulleys 22 and 23 which are engaged, respectively,by the belts, or chains, F and G.

As appears from Fig. 6, the peripheries of the disks 9 are so spacedwith relation to the roller 7 as to confine the folded strip-A ratherclosely, but without exerting gripping action thereon. Each disk 9 has acutaway part 9 to which is secured a leather-segment 9 Theleather-segments 9 intermittently exert a forwarding action upon thestrip. Preferably, they are so set as to cause a light grippi-ng' actionwhen they come into registration with the roller'l'. Such grippingaction may be light or hardly noticeable. In any event, the,segmentsoperate to produce a downwardly striking force upon the strip,which may be suflicient by reason of the impact and friction to keep upthe desired feeding action.

The feed-rolls 7 and 9 preferably have a somewhat higher speed than theroller C. By means of the bolt 14, the distance between centers of therollers 7 and 9 may be adjusted.

Rising from the upper shaft 5 of the device E are standards 2% and 25which carry fingers 24 and 25' (Fig. 3). These fingers serve as guidesfor the partially folded strip These fingers are set more closelytogether than are the fingers 1 and 2 of the device shown in Fig. 2, sothat the sections of the strip being folded are brought nearer toparallelism before passing between the final feed-rolls 8 and 9.

The rolls B and, B preferably are driven, as by means of belts 26 and27.

From the illustrations and description given, it will be understood thatthe web A, from the time it leaves the printing press, or

source of supply, is carried through the folding apparatus without theuse of continuously acting gripping feed-rollers. Rather, the web iswa-fted along, or propelled, by frictional contact with the movingsurfaces of the rollers, but rather loosely carried by the rollers.

In the final feeding mechanism E, in which the sections of the web arebrought into close parallelism, the curved, slightly eccentric,'eather-segments 9 strike the web intermittently with a downwardlyforwarding action. Nevertheless, the web is essentially free fromgrippingby the feed-rollers practically all the time. The success whichhas been attained with the apparatus is attributed largely to thefreedomof movement of the web the gradual folding which is. effected, and the\lafting action of the propelling devices employed.

It has been found desirable in practice to make provision for a longdescent of the web between the initial folding devices D and D and thefinal feeding and folding device E. There the press A is located on theground floor, for example, the web may be carried upwardly from theprinting press, to a second story wherethedevices D and D are located,the device E being located a little above the ground floor.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearnessofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should beunderstood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed asbroadly as. permissible, in view of the prior art.

What we regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Mechanism for producing longitudinal folds in a web, comprising:means for carrying the web without gripping and producing graduallongitudinal folds in the web; and intermittently-positive feed meansnear the delivery-end comprising periodically-engaging web-forwardingdevices which leave the web wholly free at. intervals.

2. Mechanism for producing longitudinal folds in a web, comprising:means for feeding the web. without gripping and producing graduallongitudinal folds in the web; and feed means near the delivery-endcomprising forwarding devices which normally loosely confine-theforwarded strip but intermittently exert a positive forwarding actionthereon,

3. Mechanism for producing longitudinal folds in a web, comprising: acurved segment and associated foldin fingers for effecting initial foldsin the weld; and feed means re ceiving the webv therefrom comprisingmoving devices which loosely confine the folded strip and exert. ageneral forwarding action thereon, and associated means whichintermittently exerts a striking, and periodicallypositive forwardingaction on the folded web.

4:. In mechanism for effecting longitudinal 1.

folding of a web, a pair of opposed feedrollers normally confining thefolded web loosely, one of said feed rollers being equipped with asegment which intermittently exerts a striking 'action in a forwardingdirection upon the folded web and advances said web positively whileengaged therewith.

5. In apparatus of the character set forth: means for carrying a webthrough an elevated course; an initial folding device associatedtherewith; and feedin and folding mechanism below said initial oldingdevice, comprising rotating rollers which normally confine the foldedweb loosely between them, one of said rollers being equipped with aperiodically-acting striking-member which serves as anintermittently-positive forwarde ing-member.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth: means for carrying a webthrough an elevated course; an associated curved segment andfolding-fingers below and adjacent said segment; and a final feeding andfolding device disposed at a distance below said fingers and comprisingmore closely set foldingfingers and a pair of feed-rolls beneath saidlast-mentioned fingers set to normally confine the folded strip loosely,said feed-rolls having associated therewith an intermittently actingstriking-member which serves as an intermittently-positiveforwarding-member.

7. In apparatus of the character set forth: means for freely supportingand exerting a forwarding action upon a web; means for producing initialfolds in the web; and a final feeding and folding device comprising athroat-like passage and feed-rolls below said passage loosely confiningthe folded strip and exerting a forwarding action thereon.

8. In apparatus of the character set forth: means for freely supportingand exerting a forwarding action upon a web; means for producing initialfolds in the web; and a final feeding and folding device comprising athroat-like passage and feed-rolls below said passage loosely confiningthe folded strip and exerting a forwarding action thereon, one of saidfeed-rolls being equipped with a striking segment which exertsforwarding action upon the folded strip.

9. In combination: a printing press; means for carrying a web from saidpress and exerting a forwarding action upon the web without closeconfinement thereof; means for effecting initial folds in the web; andintermittently-positive feeding and folding means comprisingperiodically-striking web-forwarding devices.

10. In apparatus of the character set forth: a supporting-frame; afeed-roller j ournalled therein; a swinging frame-member adjustablyconnected with said supporting-frame; a feed-roll journalled in saidswinging-frame; and actuating means comprising a rotatin shaft mountedon said supporting-frame am web.

LOUIS JENSEN. FR-EDRICK C. REUOKER'.

